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Living a Japanese life in Coimbatore

Learning a language is a skill, but mastering it is a whole new ball game, especially when it is an East Asian language. For the students of ABK-AOTS Dosokai, a Japanese language learning centre in Coimbatore, however, it is not a difficult task. From watching Japanese films, singing Japanese songs to eating Japanese food, the students are encouraged by teachers to learn the language by exploring its culture.

Founded by S Shanmuga Priya in 2009, the school was a culmination of Priya’s awe for the Japanese culture and language. The school attempts to teach the language by involving students in cultural activities related to the East Asian country.

“My father worked in Tokyo University when I was 19. I studied at Kamakura near Tokyo for a year. I was fascinated by Japanese language and started learning it. From the food, people and transportation to cleanliness, Japan is inspiring. On returning to India, I decided to open a school where people can learn Japanese language and about its culture,” says the 42-year-old.

Priya is joined in her endeavours by her colleagues Chitra Sivakumar, Shobha Ramprasath and S Janani Rajeswari, students of the academy who later took up teaching roles.

“I visited Japan a few years ago and wanted to share my passion for Japanese culture with the younger generation and try to make learning Japanese as interesting as possible for them. So instead of teaching it as a language we also try to acquaint students with its culture. Apart from acquainting students with Japanese films and music, we teach them how to make Japanese green tea, eat with the chopsticks and other cultural aspects of the country so that they understand its heritage and history,” she says.

What inspires this deep-rooted passion for Japanese culture among the teachers and students is its similarity with Indian culture and practices.

“They pray like us and talk like us. Their family ties and values are also very similar to that in India,” says Shobha.

When it comes to learning the language, S Janani Rajeswari says that Japanese is a tough nut to crack.

“It has three different scripts but there are similarities to Tamil. So, it is comparatively easier for us to pick up, but more tricky for others to learn,” she says.